Sorting machine



July 28, 1925.

1,547,287v F. AsHwoRTH soRTNG MACHINE Filed May 1.4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

n A .m F1g2^ a n iw/4' E343 e6 *l 464| l: @El 5:56 1i' H v 6 l l I .'10 51, li n 'h 21 QL h 0 e J1 A Patented .iuiy 28,1925. v Y. 4 UNITED VSTArias",l e'

FRE@ Asiwenr-H, os WENHAM', MASSACHUSETTS, z'r,'s s'1'er1\ro`nrecentrer) sHo'n Mncisnceay consonancia, os rarnnsoiv, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION F NEW .-rnasnr.V f l f SORTING' IVIACI-IINE..y i i Application med May 14, 1923. serial No. 638,897@

To aZZww/m t may concern.: be flattened out to obtain its real thickness 55 Be it known that 1 Farin AsHwon'rH, a una'liected'by bent or corrugated portions citizen of the United States, residing atl of the blank.4 In'the construction shown, Venhain, in the county of Essex and State there is nconnected'to 'the `movable side "of 5 of Massachusetts, have invented certain Imthe pocket amember which occupies various provenients in Sorting Machines, of which positionsy in accordance with differencesinj the following description, in connection with thev thicknesses of the blanksclamped in the the accompanying drawings, is a specifica-A pocket, said member serving to control'. the tion, like reference characters on the draw-v breaking of the toggle at the proper place ings indicating like parts in the several figto dischargethe blank in accordancewith mies. y its 'thickness as Vdeterminedat thel time of' This invention relates to machines for the clamping operation. sorting and treating blanks or other ar- Other features of the invention and novelticleg, Y combinations of parts will be described in'V 1t is an object of the invention to remove the detailed specification and pointed out blanks from an unassorted mass, arrange more particularly in thel appended claims.y y70 them with the same surfaces facing uni- In' the drawings, y f l forinlv in the same direction, land direct Figure 1 is a view in end elevationfand them into blank treating` devices, each blank partly in sectionl of one embodiment of the to its proper device having respect to a given invention; v f

dimension of the blank'. Fig. 2 is view fin lfront elevation of the rlChe invention contemplates the provision machine shown in 'Fig'. 1, parts'ofv the ma-r of ahopper for receiving a mass of unaschine 'being omitted for the sakeof clear'- sort-ed blanks having relatively smooth and ness; A

rough surfaces on opposite sides of each Fig. 3 is a detail plan lview of one of theV blank, and a conveyor arranged -to passpockets in the receiving conveyor; 1 80 through this mass of blanks to remove frein Fig;l 4' is a` view"in perspective fof 'the the hopper blanks having their smooth surpocketyshown in plan in Fign;v and T faces all facing in the same direction so' Fig.`5 is a sectional view along the line that the blanks may be properly delivered 5 5 of Fig. 3.`

to a machine designed to -operate upon a In the illustrative machine thereis pro# 85 givenl surface of each of the blanks. y vided a hopper 10 into which the lifts or A In the illustrative machine the blanks are other blanks may be dumped in an unas,- operated upon' by skiving devices variously sorted mass,the said hopper 'being openI at l adiustcd to produce blanks of a given range top and bottom, as will be clear from' an in-` of thicknesses, and interposed between these spection of Fig. y1 offthe drawings. "Pass- 90 devices and the means for arranging the ing` through the hopper 10is a 4conveyor'l4 blanks with Ytheir smooth' surfaces facing Y which, in the illustrative construction, comuniformly in one direction there is provided' prises two endless chains 14 passing around 40 means controlled by the thickness di1nensprocket .wheels 16 carriedV by suitabley sions of the blanks for delivering the blanks shafts 18 'rotatably mounted in `bearings in 95 cach to the skiving device set for that thick; Y the frame of the'niachine and adapted to be A ness of blank. driven through connections (not shown) Gther features of the invention relate to with any'suitable'source of power. Mount--A a conveyor for receivingV the blanks, the said ed upon the chains 14 and pivotally conconveyor having` a plurality of pockets each nected thereto, as indicated at 20, y(Fig. 2) 100 with two relatively movable' sides/designed is a. shelf 22'which is of a'siZe to enter'the i to clamp each blank in a measuring` opera'- bottom of the hppey loandf Sew@ as@ temtion, and subsequently to release lthe blank porary bottom'for the hopper, aswell asa 5U 'hen it has arrived at the discharge-*stablank removing shelf, other shelves '2.` bev tion proper'for blanks of that thickness. ing similarly supported' on the "chains 14105 Preferably the movable side of the pocket is and spaced such a distance apart thatas one operated in a positive manner as, for inshelf passes Vtuowardly away from thev botstance, by a toggleso that each blank may torn part of the hopper another takes its place to serve as a support for the blanks in the hopper. In order that each shelf may be maintained in a horizontal position while it serves as a bottom for the hopper, it is provided with an arm 24 rigid therewith and provided at its endwith a laterally extending stucl car1ying a roll 26 adapted to travel ina groove` 28 in opposite ends of the hopper l0. This groove 28 is a vertical groove in the lower part of the hopper wallpso as to maintain each shelf horizontal during this part of its travel. Subsequently, the groove is inclined inwardly, as indicated at 30, so as to `cause a tipping of the shelf for a purpose that will now be described. In operating upon many kindsl of blanks it is often desirable to present all of the blanks with a given surface facing uniformly in one direction, since it may be desired to operate upon some given surface or surfaces and to spareva certain other surface of each of the blanks. F or instance, in the skiving of heell top lifts, it is desirable toskive the flesh side of the lifts and to preserve the smooth grain surface untouched in the skiving operation. According to this invention the lifts are withdrawn from the hopper' 10 with the smooth grain surfaces of the lifts all facing in a given direction and then maintained in this relative position until they have passed into and through the skiving devices. It will be clear that theshclves 22 will remove from the hopper l0 the lifts or other blanks that happen to be in the path of each shelfy as it moves upwardly through the mass in the hopper. As each shelf passes from the upper end of the hopper it is gradually tilted at a considerable angle to the horizontal so that those lifts which rest upon the shelfl with their smooth faces acting as the supportingT face for the blanks or lifts readily slide off and drop back into the hopper, whereas those lifts which rest upon their iesh sides remain upon the shelf and are carried over with their smooth grain surfaces facing upwardly and are disi charged into the upper end ofthe chute 3G. This discharge of the lifts from the shelf 22 is accomplished through the operation of another part 38 of thel slots 28lwhich lare so shaped and'arranged as to turn the shelf 22 at such an angle at the proper time that all of the lifts or other blanks slide therefrom into the upper end of the chute. Preferably, and as'indicated in Fig. 2, the chute 36 is divided into compartments 40 by partition walls 42 which have vpointed upper vends such as to facilitate the entrance of thel blanks into individual compartments down which the blanks slide toward the lower end thereof where means is provided for retaining the blanks until the proper-time for discharging the same.

The retaining means at the lower end of the compartments 40 in the chute 36 com prises, in the construction shown, a pivoted retainer and escapement member for each compartment all operated from a single shaft 44 mounted rotatably in end walls 46 at each side of the chute 36. As shown, each retainer and escapement device comprises a retainer 50 mounted looselyron the shaft 44 extending upwardly therefrom and having its end projecting through a slot in the top cover of the chute 35 in a position to engage with thelsecond blank from the bottom end of the compartment 40. Fixed upon the shaft 44 in close juxtaposition to the retainer 50 is an escapement member 52, the lower end of which is curved inwardly and downwardly so as to extend across the lower outlet of `the compartment 40 to retain theV lowermost blank in the compartment and to release the same when the shaft 44 is rotated to project the upper ends of the retainer members 50 into contact with the second row of blanks in the compartments 40.` For moving the member 50 to blank releasing position there is provided a pin 54 extending laterally from theretainer 5() to engage with an armen the escapement member 52, so that when the escapement member is moved to project across the end of the chute the retaining member 50 is moved to releasing position.y lVhen the member 52 is operated by the shaft 44 to move it outwardlyV into its escapement position 4the member 50 is pulled down by the spring 55 yieldingly to engage blanks of different thicknesses to retain each blank within its respective compartment 40. For operating Aall of the escapement and retainer members at the lower ends of the compartments 40 simultaneously there is provided a lever 56 secured to the shaft 44 and having its lower en d projecting into the path of controller members 60 movable with the receiving conveyor 62. In the construction shown the controller member GO isassociated with every ifthpocket` soy as to disc large blanks into the five pockets below the chute.

Inconnection with the receiving conveyor 62 there are preferably providedineans for receiving the blanks from the chute 36 to maintain them with the smooth grain surfaces facing uniformly in one direction so to deliver all ofthe blanks with the grain surface properly related to the skivingl devices, :and means for insuring that blanks of a given thickness will in each case be fed to the skiving device set for that thickness of blank. Accordingly, the receiving conveyor comprises a plurality of pockets 64 each made up of a relatively stationary wall 66 and a relatively movable wall 68, the latter moving' toward the former to clamp the blank B, and thus maintain it with its smooh grain face pointing in the same direction until it has finally been delivered to the proper skiving device. In order that themovable wall68 of the'pocket 'may be movedtowfard the relatively stationary wall 66 with .sufficient pressure to flatten out 4the blank against the resistance of corrugated or folded portions of the'blank so that the true thickness of the blank may be determined, the said movable wall 68 is preferably operated by .a toggle Yas indicated clearl in FiO's. 3 4 and `5 of the drawings. Onef 3 i.

link 70 of the toggle is pivoted to the movable wall 68, and its .other end received in the forked extremity ofthe other link 72 which has its other end pivotally Connected at Tato a crossv bar 7 6 which slides upon gnidewajls 78 in the link 80 of the receiving conveyor 62. interposed between the side 82 of the link 80 and the cross bar 76 is a spring '811 which is relatively heavy but adapted to yield sufficiently to adjust the toggle mechanism to blanks of various thicknesses. Secured to the cross bar 7 6 preferably at the median point thereof is a headed bolt 8,6 which extends through an opening in the side 82 of the link 80 and serves to limit the movement ofthe cross bail 7 6 in a direction away from the side 82 so that upon breaking` the togglel movement is imparted to the movable wall6S of the pocket 64, the spring' 90 serving to more the wall 68 to its completely open position and to retain it there vuntil the toggle is again operated to cause a clamping movement of the wall 68 with respect to the relatively stationary wall 66. As shown particularly in Fig. 4,-the movable wall 68 is provided with flanges 92 having grooves therein to engage withguideways 9A fiXedly mounted upon the side vbars of the link in av manner similar to the mounting of the cross bar 76. As each blank drops from the lower end of a compartment Ll0 into the open pocket adjacent to the lower end thereof, it is received upon asnpporting plate 100 (Fig. 2) which is of a length to extend along below all of the pockets 4at the time positioned at the lower end of the chute As the pockets )ass away laterally, from the chute 86 the pockets are' closed in succession through a stationarycam member 102.(Fig. 2) which is in the path of the knuckle or liingepart of the toggle and Aseiwes to force it downwardly until the toggle is in straightened position, as indicated in Fig.` 5; Secured: to the outer end of the toggle link 'T2 is a projecting stud 104r adapted to contact with a stop 106 carried by the bar 76 so as to limit the movement of the togglelinks in a downwar'c direction, that is, beyond center. At the end of the stud104 is a roll 10S adapted to contact selectively with one of the stationary cam members 110 (Figs. 1 and carried by a bar 111 and eac disposed above and in line. with vone. of the skiving devices indicated in general by thev reference character 112. (Fig. 2). Referringto Fig.` 5 of the drawings, it will be' clear that the roll 108 will be positioned nearer the side 82 of the linkwhenarelatively thick blank Bl is clamped ih the pocket 64. and farther from the sider S2 whenA a .relatively thin blank is clamped in the pocket. This arrangement is providedV for the. purpose of discharging a blank of ay given thickness to the proper skivingdee vice for operating on blanks of thatthickness. Accordingly, the Vstationary cam' blocks 110 bear a definite relation torthe plane defined by the side walls 66' of -the line of pockets and hence the block-110 op'- posite the skiving device 113- (Fig.2) for the thickest blanks will -be positioned'far?V thest away from the described planeof the walls 66 while the vblock 110 opposite the skiving device 115 set for the thinnest blank will be closest to the said plane. Inother words, the row of cam blocks 110 defines a line which diverges away from the plane which coincides with the vvertical faces Aof the relatively stationary pocket wa1ls66, the direction of movement of the receiving conveyor 62 being such as to introduce the' pockets at the wider end of the imaginary guideway formed by the line of camblocks and the plane above described. "Hence, the thickest blanks will be dropped into the first skiving device 113 because only the thickest blank will operate to move the roll 108 far enough to the right in Fig. 1 to contact with the .cam block 110 at that point. As soon as the roll 108 contacts with a block 110 to co-operate with the latter in breaking the toggle'suiiic-iently to -enable the spring to vcomplete the movement vof the toggle to the open position of the pocket 64 the blank is discharged into the subjacent skiving device. Preferably a trough-like stationary guide 119 isy provided to direct the blanks to the skiving devices as they fall from the'pockets of the conveyor.

Y rPhe .skiving devicesreferred to-'above may beof any of the well-known types or of any desired construction. As shown ea ch skiver consists of a lined feeding roll 114 (Figs. 1 and 2) and a work-adjustable feed roll 118.V Preferably the roll 114 is adjustable with respect to the skiving knife 120 so as to be set at such a distance as to operate properly upon blanks of any givenl thickness. 1n other words the setting of the roll and knifewith lrespect to each other determines the thickness of the finished blank. Power for driving both rolls of all the skiving devices maybe furnished by connections with the driving chain belt 126 driven from any suitable source of power.

Havingdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersr Patent of the United States is: y

1; In Ia machine of the character, described, a hopper, a device arranged to pass through the hopper from the bottom to the top thereof, and means carried by the device for lifting blanks from the hopperand returning thereto those blanks which have a smooth side in contact with the lifting means.

2. In a machine of the character rlnSCribQ/d, a hopper for containing blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides of the blank, a conveyor arranged to pass through the hopper from the bottom to the top thereof, and means carried by the conveyor for sorting out the blanks which have the smooth surface 'facing one way from those which have the rough surface facing'in that direction.

3. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides of each blank, and means arranged to pass througl'i the hopperto removev therefrom blanks having one of said surfaces facing in a given direction.

4f. In a machine ofthe character described, ahopper, and means arranged to pass through the hopper from the bottom to the top thereof to lift blanks from the hopper and return thereto those blanks which have aA smooth side in contact with the lifting means.

5. In a machine ofthe character described, a hopper for containing` blanks havingrelatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides thereof, a conveyor arranged to pass through the yhopper from bottom to top thereof, and supporting members carried by said conveyor and adapted to remove blanks from the hopper and to return to the hopper those blanks which rest with their smooth surfaces on the supporting members during their passage through the hopper.

6. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides thereof, an endless conveyor arranged to pass through the hopper from bottom to top thereof, and shelf members mounted on the conveyor and adapted tol remove blanks from the hopper during their upward movement therethrough, said shelf members operating also to return to the hopper those blanks which rest thereon with their smooth surfaces in contact with the shelf member.

7. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides thereof, an endless conveyor arranged to pass through the hopper from the bottom to the top thereof, shelf members carried by the conveyor and adapted to take blanks from the hopper during their passage therethrough, and means for tipping each shelf as it passes from the upper end of the hopper to return thereto those blanks which rest on the shelf member with their smooth surfaces in contact with the shelf member. l

8. In a. machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides thereof, an endless conveyor arranged to pass through the hopper from the bottom to top thereof. shelf members carried by the conveyor and adapted to take blanks from the hopper during their passage therethrough. and a sta tionary cam for tipping each shelf member as it arrives at the upper end of the hopper so that blanks resting on the shelf members on their smooth surfaces will be returned to the hopper.V

9. In a machine of the character described, a hopper having its bottomvand top ends open, a conveyor arranged to pass through the hopper from the bottom to the top thereof, and shelf members carried` by the conv -.y0r and so'spaced from each other that there is always one shelf member serving as a bottom for the hopper, said shelf members being` adapted to lift blanks from the hopper, and means for returning certain of the blanks from the shelf 'members to the hopper. 1

l0. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holdingv a mass of blanks having a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of each blank, means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces fac-y ing all in one direction anddelivering them with the lsurfaces facing uniformly in the saine direction, and a conveyor for receiv' ing each blank indepeiidently of the others to carry it to a discharge station.

ll. In a machine'of the character described, a hopper for holdinga mass of blanks having a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of each blank, means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces faeing all in one direction and delivering them` with the surfaces uniformly in the same direction, a receiving conveyor, and measuring clamps on the conveyor for contacting with opposite faces o f each blank to measure the thickness of the same and to carry it to a deliverystation individual to blanks of that given thickness.

l2. In a machine of theV character .de-i

scribed. a hoaer for holdin@ a mass of blanks having a relatively smooth and rough? 'ried by the conveyor for measuring the Il il blanks and thus enabling the conveyori'to deliver` the blanks at various stations in accordance with the measured thickness of the various. blanks.

13. ln a machine of the character. described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having a relatively smoothI and rough surface. on opposite sides .of each blank, means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces facing all in one direction and delivering them with the surfaces facing uniformly in the same direction, a receiving conveyor, and a plurality of toggle operated clamp memT bers on thel conveyor for` measuring vthe thickness of the blanks and for.carrying themv to various stations inaccordance With the thickness ofthe blanks inthe clamps.

lei- In a machine of the` character described, a hopper for holdinga mass yof blanks having a. relatively smooth and rough surface oni opposite sides of each blank, means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces fac-ing all in one direction and delivering them With the surfaces facing uniformly in the same direc,- tion, a receiving conveyor, a plurality of claimj members operable,.toelamp each blank individually after its receipt by the receiving conveyor to measure the thickness of the same, and means-for opening the clamp members at the proper discharge station for blanks of the given thickness. Y

15. In a machine. of-.the character described, a plurality of skiving devices, a hopper for receiving an unassorted mass of blanks having relatively smooth and. rough surfaces on opposite sides of each blank, and conveyor means for removingblanks from the hopper and delivering` the blanks to the skiving devices with their. smooth surfaces all facing in one direction,

16. In a machine, of the characterr described, a plurality of gskiving devices each set to skive` aj blank to-a giventhickness, and means for selectively ,delivering to the skivingvdevices in accordance Withthethick- Y ness dimensiony lthereof sets of blanks Yhaving their smooth surfaces all facing uniformly in al given direction...

17. In a., machine of the character de-l scribed, a plurality of skiving devices vset each to skive a blank of a different thickness, a hopper for holdingan unassorted mass of blanks having lrelatively smooth andr rough surfaces on opposite sides of each blanlnand means for removing blanks from the hopper and delivering them with their sinootlrsur-V faces all facing uniformlyv in a given, direc,- tiou, and each blank .of a given thickness Yto the skiving device set for thatl thickness.

18. In a .machine of thel character del scribed, a plurality of skiving devices, set each for a different thickness of blank, a hopper for, holding a mass of. blanks having relatively smooth andrough surfaces on oppositc sides of` eachblank, means vfor with? drawing from the hopper blanks .having their .smoothsurfaces all facing in a given direction, and. :means for, distributing these blanks each. to .the f skivingv devicey for that ering, the blanks each tothe skiving device for that measured thickness..

y 20. In a machine ofthe character described, a p'lunality ofA skivingdevices set each Vfor a different thickness-of blank,.me ans for. Y arranging blanks each having a, smooth and a rough surface Witlriall :thesmOOth surfaces facing in the samendirection, and means controlled by the vlthickness `dimension of the blanks for delivering theblanks each totheskiving device set for .that thickness.

21. In a machine of vthe characterv de.- scribed, a plurality of` vskiving .devices .set each for a different thickness of blank,. a hopper for holding amass of blanks having relatively smooth and roughsurfaces on op? posite sides of each blank, a vconveyor having shelves for Withdravvingufrom the-hopper blanks having their smooth surfaces all facingin a given direction,,andpositi-vely operated4 measuringclamps for receiving =tl1e blanks indiscriminately yand subsequently de.- liveringthem selectively v.each to the skiving device for that particular thickness of blank,

22. In .a machine of the character described, a pluralityof skiving-devices arrangedy ina vrovvand fset to skivev blanks 4of different thicknesses increasing, in size pro.- gressively from onegend. of .the ,row vto the other, ahopper for holdinga mass, of .loose blankshavingeacha relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sidesl ofl the blank, means for.'.withdrawingfrom .the hopper a groupl of blankshaving their smoothy surf faces [all facing uniformly inone direction, andmeans .for measuring the thickness `0f, the blanks and delivering themito the various skivingV devices y inl I accordance Withi the def terminations .Uf the .measuring imams.

23. In a machine of the character'. de? scribedga plural-ity of skiving devices; `arranged. ina rowy and Set to. ,slave blanks .of different thicknesses `.increasing in sizeproT gressi-vely from. ,one endnfof 4the row. to the other, a vho perforholdinga mass Aof loose .blanks .harms each a-relatfvely Smooth 'and rough surface on opposite sides of the blank, a conveyor for withdrawing from the hopper a group of blanks having their smooth surfaces all facing uniformy in one direction, a plurality of pockets into which the group of blanks are received one blank to each pocket with the smooth faces of the blanks still facing all in a given direction, and clamp members for engaging the blanks in the pockets and for delivering the blanks each to the proper skiving device in accordance with the thickness of the clamped blank.

24. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of skiving devices arranged in a row and set to skive blanks of different thicknesses increasing in size progressively from one end of the row to the other, a hopper for holding a mass of loose blanks having each a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of the blank, a conveyor for withdrawing from the hopper a group of blanks having their smooth surfaces all facing uniformly in one direction, a plurality of pockets into which the group of blanks are received one blank to each pocket with the smooth faces of the blanks still facing all in a given direction, clamp members for engaging the blanks in the pockets to determine the thickness of each blank and means for tripping the clamp members each at the proper skiving device in accordance with the thickness of the clamped blank.

25. In a machine of the character described, a hopper having its bottom and top ends open, a conveyor arranged to pass through the hopper from the bottom to the top thereof, and shelf members carried by the conveyor and so spaced from each other that there is always one shelf member serving as a bottom for the hopper, said shelf members being adapted to lift blanks from the hopper, and means for tipping each shelf member in succession to return certain of the blanks to the hopper.

26. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blankshaving a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of each lblank, a chute, means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces facing all in one direction and delivering them to the chute with the surfaces facing uniformly in the same direction, a receiving conveyor at the discharge end of the chute, and means in the receiving conveyor for positively clamping each blank independently of the others to carry it to a discharge station.

27. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of each blank, a chute, means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces facing all in one direction and delivering them to the chute with the surfaces facing uniformly in the same direction, a receiving conveyor at the discharge end of the chute, and a measuring clamp for contacting with opposite faces of each blank to measure the thickness of the same and to carry it to a delivery station individual to blanks of that given thickness.

28. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of each blank, a chute, means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces facing all in one direction and delivering them to the chute with the surfaces facing uniformly in the same direction, a receiving conveyor at the discharge end of the chute, and positively operated clamping members for measuring the blanks received from the chute and for delivering them at stations in accordance with the measured thickness of the various blanks.

29. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of each blank, a chute, -means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces facing all in one direction and delivering them to the chute with the surfaces facing uniformly in the same direction, a receiving conveyor at the discharge end o-f the chute, and a plurality of toggle operated clamp members for measuring the thickness of the blanks and for carrying them to various stations as determined by the thickness of the blanks in the clamps.

30. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of each blankg a. chute, means for withdrawing blanks from the hopper with their smooth surfaces facing all in one direction and delivering them to the chute with the surfaces facing uniformly in the same direction, a receiving conveyor at the discharge end of the chute, a plurality of clamp members operable to clamp each blank individually after its receipt by the receiving conveyor to measure the thickness of the same, and means for opening the clamp members at the proper discharge station for blanks of the given thickness.

3l. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of blank treating devices, a hopper for receiving an unassorted mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides of each blank, means for removing from the hopper blanks having their smooth surfaces all facing uniformly in the same direction, and means for delivering the blanks to the blank llm treating devices with their smooth surfaces all facing -in one direction. f

In a machine of the :character described, a plurality of blank treating devices, a hopper for holding an unassorted mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on oppositeI sides ofeach blank, and means for withdrawing from the hopper and delivering to the blank treating devices sets of blanks having their smooth surfaces all facing uniformly in a given direction.

33. In a machine of t-he character described, a plurality of blank treating devices set each to treat a blank of a dierent thiclmess, a. hopper for holding an unassorted mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides of each blank, a conveyor for removing blanks from the hopper and delivering them with their smooth surfaces all facing uniformly in a given direction, and a conveyor for delivering eachblank of a given thickness to the blank treating device set for that thickness.

3l. In a machine of the character described, ya plurality of skiving devices set each for a different thickness of blank, a

Vhopper for holding a mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides of each blank, a conveyor for withdrawing from the lhopper blanks havtheir smooth surfaces all facing in a given direction, and a conveyor for distributing these blanks each to the skiving device for that thickness of blank.

35. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of skiving devices set each for a different thickness o-f blank, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides of each blank, a conveyor for withdrawing-from the hopper blanks having their smooth surfaces all facing in a given direction, and a conveyor provided withclamp members to engage the opposite sides of each blank for measuring the thickness of the blanks Without disturbing their relations with respect to the facing direction of the smooth surfaces, and for delivering the blanks each to the skiving device for that measured thickness.

36. In a machine of the character describe-d, a plurality of skiving devices set each for a different thickness of blank, a hopper for holding a mass of blanks having relatively smooth and rough surfaces on opposite sides of each blank, means for withdrawing from the hopper blanks having their smooth surfaces all'facing in a given direction, and positively operated measuring clamps for engaging the different blanks and subsequently delivering them each to the skiving device for that particular thickness of blank,

In a machine of the character described, a plurality vof'skiving devices arranged in a row and vset to skive blanks -of different thicknesses increasing -in size progressively from one end of they row to the other, a hopper for holding a mass of loose blanks having each a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of the blank, meansfor withdrawing from the hopper a group of blanks having their smooth Ysurfaces-all facing' uniformly in one Adirection, a receiving conveyor having a plurality of pockets into which the group of blanks are received one blank to each pocket with ythe smooth faces of the blanks still facingall in a given direction, and means for measuring the thickness of the blanks in the pockets and delivering them tothe various -skiving devices in accordance with the determin atio-ns'of thefineasuring means.

88.- In a. machine of the character descril ed, ay plurality of skiving devices arranged in a row and set to'skive blanks of differontthicknesses increasing in size progressively from one end o-f the row to the other, a hopper for holding amass of loose blanks having each a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of the blank, means for withdrawing from the hopper a group 4of blanks having their smooth surfaces all facing uniformly in one direction, aV receiving conveyor havin0f a plurality of pockets into which the group of blanks are received one blank to each pocketwith the smooth faces of the blanks still facing all in a given direction, and clamp members for engaging the blanks in the pockets and for delivering the blanks eachto the proper skiving device in accordance with .the thickness of the clamped blank.

39. In a machine ofthe character described, a plurality of skiving devices arranged in a row and set to skive blanks of different thicknesses increasing in sizev progressively from one end of the row to the other, a hopper for holding a mass of loose blanks having each a relatively smooth and rough surface on opposite sides of the blank, means for withdrawing from the hopper a group of blanks having their smooth surfaces all facing uniformly in one direction, a receiving` conveyor having a'plurality of pockets into which the group of blanks are received one blank to each pocket with the smooth faces of the blanksV still facing all in a given direction, positively operated clamp members for engaging the blanks in the pockets to determine the thickness of each blank, and stationary cam members-for tripping the clamp members each at the proper skiving device in accordance with the thickness of the clamped blank.

40. In a machine of. the character described, a conveyor for blanks having a plurality of pockets for receiving the blanks,

said pockets each having a ixed and a movable-side between which the blank may be clamped, neans lor moving the movable side toward and from the fixed side, a member connected to the movable side so that it Will occupy dillerent positions in accord- Yance With differences in the thicknesses of Vthe blanks when the latter are clamped one at a'time between the movable sides of the 10:

ber for causing the pocket to be opened to pocket, and means controlled by said memrelease the blank at the station for that thickness of blank.

-means for backing the toggle so that it may adjust itself to blanks of various thick- .nesses, a` member controlled by the toggle -so that it occupies various positions in acf-cordance with differences )eitwveen successive 'clamped blanks as to their thickness dimension, and a plurality of members adapted to operate. selectively upon the. member con- :trolled by the toggle so as to effect the break- 30 ing of the toggle at the proper discharge station for the clamped blank.

42. In a machine ot the character described, a conveyor for blanks having a plurality of pockets for receiving the blanks,

said pockets each' having a liked and a movable side between which the blank may be clamped, a toggle for moving the movable side, a member connected to the movable side so that it will occupy diliierent positions in accordance With the differences in the thicknesses of the blanks when the latter are clamped one at a time between the relatively movable sides of the pocket, and means controlled by said member for opening the toggle to release the blank at the station for that thickness ci: blank.

ln aV machine ot the character described, a conveyor for receiving and transporting blanks comprising a pocket adapted to receive one blank at a time, said pocket having a stationary and a movable side for engaging opposite faces ot' the blank, a toggie for operating the movable side, spring .eans for backing the Vtoggle so that itmay adjust itself to blanks of various thicknesses, a member positioned by the toggle so that it occupies various positions in accordance With differences, as to the thickness dimension, in the clamped blanks, and a plurality of members adapted to operate selectively upon the member positioned by the tof jle as to effect the breaking of the toggle at the proper discharge station for the clamped blank.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciication. 

